Eastlands Primary School

Safeguarding

Safeguarding – Guidance and Information for Parents

At Eastlands Primary School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment.

Our principle safeguarding duties and responsibilities are achieved through:

Raising awareness of safeguarding among staff

We use the Keeping Children Safe in Education, statutory safeguarding guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). All staff have read this guidance and are aware of the safeguarding policies and procedures and know how to recognise and report signs of abuse and neglect. We also use the doucment called If you are worried about a child.

If a child shares information that concerns us, we complete a green form and talk to parents. Occasionally, we seek further advice from the Warwickshire MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub).

Staff raise any concerns about pupils’ welfare with the safeguarding leads, who will then make decisions about referrals. A referral will be made immediately where a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm.

Also see website pages

https://www.eastlandsprimaryschool.co.uk/parents-carers/support-for-families

Safeguarding training

All staff undergo safeguarding training that is regularly updated and training for the Designated Safeguarding Leads are updated at least every two years. We are trained to support staff and liaise with other agencies.

Safer recruitment

Everyone working at Eastlands, including governors, third party staff and volunteers undergo appropriate safer recruitment checks, including the correct level of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Checks are recorded on the school’s single central record (SCR).

Specific safeguarding issues

All staff are aware of specific safeguarding issues such as radicalisation, child sexual exploitation, children missing education and mental health.

We use appropriate internet filters and monitoring systems to keep pupils safe online. There are curriculum lessons to help teach children how to keep themselves safe.

Safeguarding policies

At Eastlands we update our child protection policy and staff code of conduct annually to respond to the most up to date guidance and legislation. The child protection policy can be accessed within our Keeping Children Safe in Education. This also includes procedures covering particular safeguarding issues such as recruitment and selection, allegations against staff, peer abuse, children missing education, radicalisation, whistle-blowing, mobile phone usage and work experience.

6. Operation Encompass

Eastlands Primary works in partnership with Warwickshire Police and Warwickshire Children’s Services to support pupils who are affected by incidents of domestic violence and abuse. This scheme is called Operation Encompass.

When the Police attend any incident of domestic violence or abuse in any household in which a pupil of the school lives, the headteacher and another named Designated Safeguarding Lead will receive a confidential and secure Email on the morning of the next school day, notifying them simply that there has been an incident and that the child may need support.

On receipt of any such notification, the headteacher or the named DSL will ensure that teachers and other staff directly in contact with affected children support them with due kindness, care and sensitivity. In addition to supporting children, the process means that the school will also be in a position to offer parents and carers support as appropriate.

The information will be managed and stored with the utmost sensitivity and discretion consistent with all other confidential safeguarding records.

Under the Education Act 2002 (Section 175 for maintained schools/Section 157 for academies/free/independent schools), schools must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Parents/carers should know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which gives rise to a concern about a child’s welfare, including risk from neglect, physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Staff will seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the parent/carer and discuss the need to make a referral to Children’s Social Care if that is considered necessary. This will only be done where such discussion will not place the child at increased risk of significant harm or cause undue delay. The school will seek advice from Children’s Social Care when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child may be suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. Occasionally, concerns are passed on which are later found to be unfounded. Parents/carers will appreciate that the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead carries out their responsibilities in accordance with the law and acts in the best interests of all children.